Rise and Shine: What you need to know before the ASX opens

Pic: d3sign / Moment via Getty Images
On Stockhead today, why copper looms as the biggest potential winner post-COVID-19, gold is at record prices but mid-tier producers might be looking undervalued and the latest RockTalk — battery metals stocks and the “new energy world”.
But first…
The week ahead
The local data schedule will be highlighted by March employment numbers on Thursday. However, the Westpac economics team expects the unemployment rate “to see a more significant hit in April” from the COVID-19 fallout.
There’s also the monthly survey results due out from NAB (business confidence on Tuesday) and Westpac (consumer confidence on Wednesday).
Looking abroad, markets will be focused on a data deluge out of the US, starting with the federal government’s monthly budget statement for March on Monday night.
The following companies are in trading halts and are expected to exit in the next two trading days:
Tuesday:
Neurotech (ASX:NTI) – price query response
People Infrastructure (ASX:PPE) – capital raising
Anova Minerals (ASX:AWV) – capital raising update
Pioneer Credit (ASX:PNC) – acquisition update
Wednesday:
Superior Lake Resources (ASX:SUP) – consolidation
Mandrake Resources (ASX:MAN) – nickel project transition
Spirit Telecom (ASX:ST1) – capital raising
Markets
Gold: $US1,712.46 ($2,660.31) (+1.30%)
Silver: $US15.37 (-0.52%)
Oil (WTI): $US22.38 (-1.63%)
Oil (Brent): $US31.84 (+1.14%)
Coal: $US61.00 (+0.00%)
Iron 62pc Fe: $US83.35 (+0.58%)
AUD/USD: $US0.6385 (+0.57%)
Bitcoin: $US6,831.00 (-4.06%)
What got you talking last week
Among the key talking points on Stockhead last week, readers took an interest in our latest look at market opportunities for companies in the online learning space.
And in case you missed it, here’s Rachel Williamson’s weekly wrap of all the main COVID-19 news affecting ASX small caps.
These were the most tipped stocks (weekly) on Stocks in Play last Thursday:

Last week’s winners
Last week’s losers
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